Some coaches go over the same thing in practice hoping it will work once when game day rolls around.

Add Tottenville to that list.

And because of it, the Pirates find themselves heading to the PSAL semifinals for the first time in three years.

Lizbeth Aparicio snapped a tie by scoring off a pretty Megan Grace feed early in the second half and Tottenville held off visiting McKee/Staten Island Tech via a 2-1 quarterfinal triumph Wednesday in Huguenot.

The No. 4-seeded Pirates (15-1 PSAL), who also received a goal from Nina Brennan, will now meet top-seeded Beacon in the semifinals Tuesday at Randall's Island Field No. 90 at noon. The other semifinal pits No. 19 Lab Museum against No. 2 and defending city champion Bronx Science (Randall's Island Field No. 91).

"We haven't been to the semifinals since my freshman year, so of course we're hoping to go all the way and we're glad to be in the semis,'' said senior Grace, who also had a goal and assist in a 4-1 round-of-16 victory over Stuyvesant on Monday. "Our team has perfect chemistry. We work as a team and it's one of the reasons why we're in this position.''

"It's a nice relief that we put it all together against Tech, which played a super game today, as I expected,'' added Tottenville coach George Kaplan, whose team outshout the Sea Gulls 13-7.

The game was tied 1-1 at intermission, but 12 minutes into the new half, Grace gained control along the right sideline and started to close in on goalie Victoria Wuensch from the end line. The senior delivered a bouncer to the far post where Aparicio got a step on a defender and tapped home the go-ahead goal.

"We practice it all the time,'' said Grace. "I saw (Aparicio) making a run at the other end and I wanted to keep it on the ground. I had a good feeling when I let it go and I could see she was in a good spot.''

"I knew she was going to send it on the ground. She always does,'' added Aparicio. "So I just ran to the net with all my heart.

"It was a perfect pass,'' the sophomore continued. "I had no time to think. I just put it low and to the (near) corner and luckily I found the spot.''

Kaplan said practicing the play multiple paid dividends.

"Nice play,'' said the coach, who received solid defensive play from Brianna DiStefano, Kaitlin Russo, Alexa Appel and Sabrina Bianchi in front of winning goalie Tiffany Tichio (one save). "We've worked on it over and over and over again and it's really nice to see it work.''

The No. 5 Sea Gulls (13-3 PSAL), who handed Tottenville its lone loss this season, made things interesting just seven minutes into the game when Sarah Tress one-touched a Jackie Moses pass into the right portion of the net from in close to make it 1-0.

But the momentum gained from scoring the first goal was erased just four minutes later when the Pirates were awarded a free kick just above the box and to the right. Senior Brennan took the honors and booted a laser just under the upper left 90 to make it 1-1.

"She put it right under the crossbar,'' said Kaplan. "It was nice to score just a few minutes later.''

With Tottenville's defense limiting the Sea Gulls chances, the Pirates eventually got the tie-breaking tally.